U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’ husband Douglas Emhoff voiced support for Tokyo’s hosting of a safe and secure Paralympics in a meeting Tuesday with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, the Foreign Ministry said.

Emhoff is leading the American delegation at the opening ceremony of the Paralympics at the National Stadium in the evening, a role first lady Jill Biden played last month at the Olympics.

During their 15-minute meeting at the prime minister’s office, the U.S. “second gentleman” told Suga he looks forward to the athletes’ performances at the global sporting event, the ministry said.

Much like the Olympics, the Paralympics are being held almost entirely without spectators as Tokyo remains under a state of emergency amid a nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases.

Suga and Emhoff also discussed a range of other issues, including the situation in Afghanistan, where evacuation efforts are ongoing following the Taliban’s return to power, and Harris’ trip to Southeast Asia, the ministry said.